Lighting setup advice

[Tab28]

So to get more of a definitive answer if I'm going to have a mixed reef with fish tank should I just go with 2 250 watt MH bulbs?

Also can anyone recommend a single ballast that can handle 2 MH fixtures?

David

The 2-250 mh is enough light for growing sps on the top 2/3 of the tank. It will be hard for some lps with that strong of light. You will have to create some shady areas using aqua scaping. You will not need t5 unless you want it as supplement coloring. I am using a galaxy dual 250 ballast. I have had it for a couple years but i am sure they still make it. I got it from salty supply.

 

[Diazreeflife]

Tab I just learned that the Galaxy dual ballast has been discontinued.

 

[Tab28]

Tab I just learned that the Galaxy dual ballast has been discontinued.

I did a google and it still can be gotten. First to come up was amazon, in stock. I am sure it can still be had on ebay as well as others. Galaxy ballast are very popular so they are out there. The dual may just be a bit harder to get.

 

[Diazreeflife]

What do you all think about the IceCap 250 Watt Electronic Metal Halide/ HQI Ballast. Of course I would have to buy 2.

 

[Tab28]

Thought ice cap was gone. I knew they made good ballast. I have one i use for t5 for years. There are many very good ballast out there just stick to one that gets good reviews and meets your budget. Magnetic ballast are much harder to find anymore. Plus they weigh a ton and are not as energy efficient. Most you find will be electronic. The galaxy runs radiums as well as the old magnetics.

 

[Diazreeflife]

Yeah your right ice caps are gone, but I did find the duals as you said online!

 

[Diazreeflife]

Which 250W MH bulb do you all recommend?

 

[specvjeff]

I like the 14k Phoenix MH bulbs.

 

[Tab28]

There are many. You also see they get expensive and need to be replaced in less than a year. To the eye they will still seem fine but will need replacing. Phoenix is a great bulb is a 15k but looks like a 20k. Radiums are also great they are a 20k but can only get them as se at 250 mh. There are so many brands varying from about $60 to over $100 per bulb. You will get lots of input on the better bulb. I say get what you can afford at this point. If you do not like it you have to replace the bulbs in less than a year.

 

[Tab28]

A heads up. Not sure which ballast and fixture you will be getting. Most companies make them for their products. When i did mine i chose a galaxy ballast and a fixtures which are made for that ballast. Some fixtures have plugs that are made for certain ballast plugs. You can but adapters to correct this. The fixture plugs into the ballast this chord will have a female or male end which may need a corrector. You would hate to get it all ready to put together and the plugs will not work?

 

[Diazreeflife]

I made my own diy MH Lumenarc fixtures so I should be ok if anything I'll get an adapter. But I called my LFS and they are giving me a good deal on two galaxy select a watts 250/400.

 

[Tab28]

I would like those ballast. They would be good if you upgrade. Wish i did one side with a lower wattage for my lps.

 

[Diazreeflife]

I would like those ballast. They would be good if you upgrade. Wish i did one side with a lower wattage for my lps.

Tab I don't know if u already told me but what else do u use others then ur MH

 

[Tab28]

Tab I don't know if u already told me but what else do u use others then ur MH

I have 2 t5 on each side of mh. I use them for supplemental color. There are so many different colors anymore. You can buy blue, purple, pink or white. I also have 120watt strip of led all blue. They are also for supplement color. They are on dimmer. All lights are on timers so they turn off on certain times. You will get a preference for what color mh you prefer. I like lots of blue even more than 20k radiums i have. This is where the blue led come in. Some colors the blue led washes them out. So the pink and purple t5 works to balance.

 

[Diazreeflife]

I have 2 t5 on each side of mh. I use them for supplemental color. There are so many different colors anymore. You can buy blue, purple, pink or white. I also have 120watt strip of led all blue. They are also for supplement color. They are on dimmer. All lights are on timers so they turn off on certain times. You will get a preference for what color mh you prefer. I like lots of blue even more than 20k radiums i have. This is where the blue led come in. Some colors the blue led washes them out. So the pink and purple t5 works to balance.

Which blue LED strips did u go with?

 

[Tab28]

Mine is a custom built strip. It is 45 3watt so actually 135watt strip. It is only 1.5" wide which is what i need since as you know after t5 and mh there is no room. There are several good strips. Like stunner strips. You can choose from many color combos. Mine mounted on those wood panels on each side of inside of door. The brackets are like a hinge so i can pivot the strip. Led is a bright light but narrow beams unlike t5 and mh which have very wide beams.

 

[Diazreeflife]

Post a pic if u can

 

[Diazreeflife]

Tab do u have HO T5's or just regular output T5's?

 

[Tab28]

Post a pic if u can

I can not take pix of my setup. The led strip from front you only see the metal top. It is mounted low and on front panel of canopy.

My t5 not sure if they are HO. I guess they may since they are on a ice cap ballast and there are only 2 39watts the ice cap runs it on overdrive. Which shortens the bulb life. How the old magnetic mh ballast ran. A magnetic 250 ballast actually ran higher wattage than 250. A digital is electronic set to run bulbs at 250 watts. I use the mh for growth and t5 for color. 2 t5 in a 125 gallon tank could only be considered supplemental. Overdrive or not.

 

[Diazreeflife]

So I could get away with going with non HO T5's? Since it's just for supplemental lighting